Unbinding the Unbreakable? Plus ACID POPS (Re: Draco's age on the tower )

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 160094

> Carol responds:
> I do wonder, however, what Draco as a "man" of seventeen will think 
> of Snape's Unbreakable Vow to protect him, if it's still in effect. I
> rather think he'll rebel against it and bully Narcissa into reversing
> it (Bella wouldn't require bullying to act as unbinder, even if she
> could be intimidated by Draco, which is most unlikely).

Jen: I'm curious about the idea that Bella could unbind the Vow if 
Narcissa requested it. My speculation is that the power of the Vow is 
that it is unbreakable on *both* sides. Both sets of hands were 
encircled together in the flames, not just Snape's, symbolizing that 
the two people are tied together until the outcome. 

In fact, now that I think more about it, what if this is the reason 
Snape doesn't break off the Vow when he hears the third request? He 
and Narcissa are already bound by two fiery chains. At that point he 
only has to fulfill those two requests or he will die. Then Narcissa 
speaks again and makes the third and final request--her part in the 
Vow. If Snape could die by not fulfilling each request he agrees to, 
it seems possible to me that Narcissa could die if she's already 
spoken a request and Snape won't accept it. The Vow is a dark one if 
the outcome is death. It makes sense that the danger could be to both 
parties.

Now all this depends on ACID POPS*, or some other reason Snape 
wouldn't want to see Narcissa die. I like ACID POPS as a motivation 
(that Snape has unrequited or requited love for Narcissa) because it 
explains two things:

1) Narcissa trusts Snape enough to ask for the UV when she knows it's 
going against the Dark Lord's orders. She doesn't fear Snape will call 
her a traitor and turn her over to LV.

2) Snape doesn't break off the UV at the third clause. The hand twitch 
would signal Snape's turmoil over the choice he has to make--does he 
allow Narcissa to die at that moment or go forward knowing Draco is 
unlikely to complete the task? It's a no-win situation for him if he 
still has feelings for Narcissa.

Jen R.

*ACID POPS: Alas, Cissy Is Despondent, Perhaps Obsessively Passionate 
Severus

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/138593